Linhu Village!
Lin Chen returned to the village, attracting the attention of the entire village.
Even the old village chief, upon hearing the news, hurried back to the Lin Family to inquire about the situation.
Upon learning that Lin Chen had merely come home to practice martial arts, he finally relaxed.
After seeing off the old village chief, Lin Chen recalled the anxious expression on his face when he first arrived, and could understand his concerns.
He is now essentially the hope of the entire village, so naturally, the village chief doesn't want anything to go wrong with him.
Mrs. Lin was extremely happy to see her son back, and organized a lavish dinner that night, with fish and meat. She even specifically asked Father Lin to buy a few pounds of beef.
"Chen'Er, tell me about your time at the martial arts hall."
At the dining table, Mrs. Lin wore an expression full of anticipation.
"Tell you what, you wouldn't understand even if I did." Father Lin took a sip of the cloudy wine from his glass: "Don't tell your mom too much. She has nothing to say under the old camphor tree. If you talk about things from the martial arts hall, she'll be chatting with the village women for days."
"Lin Jiang, what do you mean by that? What's wrong with me chatting in the village?" Mrs. Lin slammed the table: "Have I ever not done my share of the housework?"
"I didn't mean that, I..."
"What do you mean, you think I go to the village to chat just to hear them praise me, eh? Liang'Er should be of marriageable age now, I have to find out which family has good girls."
Lin Chen originally did not interfere with his parents' bickering, silently eating his meal. Hearing this, he couldn't help but look up and ask, "Wasn't it said that Big Brother has feelings for Erya sister?"
"Your big brother says nothing. When asked, he just says it's still early, no rush."
At the mention of this, Mrs. Lin's voice carried a hint of complaint. The youngest is now learning martial arts, clearly not ready to marry soon. The eldest is tight-lipped; asking him always gets only a smile.
"Big Brother shouldn't wait any longer. If he has feelings for Erya sister, he should send a matchmaker to propose, set the date, as it would take several months to half a year to prepare." Lin Chen looked at his big brother Lin Liang, speaking earnestly.
"I'm really not in a hurry." Big brother Lin Liang shook his head.
Lin Chen frowned: "Big Brother, could it be you think that if you marry now, it would delay my martial arts training?"
Other than this possibility, Lin Chen couldn't think of another reason.
Thinking of this, Lin Chen's expression turned serious: "Big Brother, you really don't need to think like this. I am now training at the martial arts hall, given top-class student treatment. Although not as noble as the offspring of influential families, I still have enough silver coins. The instructors at the hall regard me highly, otherwise, they would not have allowed me to come home to train. The rules are strict; new students are not allowed to live outside within half a year."
Training in martial arts will still take two or three years for him. If Big Brother continues to postpone marriage because of this, Lin Chen would feel guilty.
Big brother is eighteen this year, which would indeed be early to marry in his previous life, but in this world, he is already of marriageable age.
Most importantly, Big Brother can wait, but Erya sister from the Chen Family may not.
Girls in the village are of marriageable age between sixteen and eighteen; Erya sister is the same age as Big Brother, and the Chen Family is likely anxious too.
"Brother Chen, are you serious?"
Lin Liang looked at his younger brother. The reason he hadn't admitted his affection for Erya sister was that if he were to marry and set an engagement, the family would have to spend some money. It is the time when Brother Chen needs money for martial arts in the hall, so the money had to be saved for Brother Chen.
"Would I lie to you, Big Brother?" Lin Chen smiled at his mother: "Mom, I think you can find a matchmaker to propose marriage to the Chen Family."
"Alright, I'll find a matchmaker tomorrow. After all, it's a martial artist speaking, and what he says works better than I do as a mother. I ask your big brother, and he doesn't say a word."
Mrs. Lin said with a hint of resentment in her expression while big brother Lin Liang hurried to explain: "Mom, I didn't mean to not say anything, I just... sigh... I do like Erya."
The tongue-tied big brother finally confessed.
Mrs. Lin was secretly pleased and gave Lin Chen a proud look, to which Lin Chen responded with a thumbs-up to his mother.
The ginger gets spicier as it ages, and Big Brother couldn't escape from mother's Five Finger Mountain.
...
...
After dinner, the sky dimmed.
Lin Chen stepped out of his house, not to take a walk like Mrs. Lin, but headed to the village fields.
The first move of the Flying Swallow Technique, "Swallow's Nest," required a vast, flat area to allow his speed to be fully unleashed.
"Lightly touch the ground with both feet, direct Qi to the abdomen, and rise with Qi!"
Lin Chen's figure began leaping continuously in the fields, from an initial leap of a yard away, like a frog, jumping from one end of the field to the other.
And on and on!
One trip, two trips, three trips...
Relentless through the deep night!
...
...
Two hours later, reaching the latter half of the night, Lin Chen finally stopped. He glanced around at the water fields, and by the moonlight, he could see many eels active in the water.
Slap!
Lin Chen's hand was as quick as lightning, starting to dart through the water fields, catching several large eels in succession, finally using his shirt to wrap them and stepping back home.
"It seems my night vision has improved quite a bit. Is it because of the 'All the Way Black' title?"
Lin Chen summoned his panel:
{"All the Way Black: Unsettled Heaven and Earth, both you and I are dark horses. With this title, martial arts comprehension and perception are enhanced during the night."}
This perception should refer to the five senses.
Lin Chen listened quietly, focusing intently, as a night wind arose, not too fast or slow, carrying the unique freshness and coolness of the fields, traversing through them.
This night wind was entirely different from the wind he felt in the martial arts hall courtyard.
The wind in the courtyard was constrained and traceable.
The field's night wind was more natural, more unrestrained.
Like a spirit, spiraling upward at times, diving downwards at others, swaying the surrounding grass, seedlings, and the entire field, showcasing an inexpable rhythm.
Lin Chen stood bare-chested, allowing the night wind to brush over his skin. At this moment, his whole mind was immersed in feeling the night wind.
Ephemeral as the wind, formless and shapeless!
This is the true meaning of Clear Wind Palm!
Following nature and seizing opportunities, these are the essences of the Clear Wind Palm.
After a moment!
Lin Chen put down the clothes he was holding, not even caring about the eels that were escaping to the ground, and started practicing the Clear Wind Palm.
One palm after another!
The sound of palm strikes howled, joining the night wind in chorus!
[Clear Wind Palm] +1
[Clear Wind Palm] +1
...
...
Hoo!
Suddnely!
Night wind howled, and the seedlings in the field all bowed down.
Slam!
Lin Chen struck with a palm, bringing a loud cracking wind sound like firecrackers.
The sound of insect chirping fell silent in an instant.
Lin Chen opened his eyes, softly called: Panel.
{"Name: Lin Chen"}
{"Occupation: Martial Artist"}
{"Realm: Opening Acupoints Realm (2/24)"}
{"Clear Wind Palm: Small Success (0/10)"}
{"Water Cloud Palm: Not yet entered (90/100)"}
{"Life Chart: Natural Progress: Martial Arts First Realm, Perseverance, Gradual Advancement, Unstoppable, No Bottleneck Problem."}
{"Martial Path Title: All the Way Black"}
{"All the Way Black: Unsettled Heaven and Earth, both you and I are dark horses. With this title, martial arts comprehension and perception are enhanced during the night."}
Clear Wind Palm achieved Small Success in one night!
"Coming back home was right. If I had stayed in the martial arts hall courtyard, it would have taken at least ten days to half a month to reach Small Success in Clear Wind Palm."
Lin Chen grinned widely, smiling happily.
Then he looked down, noticing that the eels originally wrapped in his shirt had all run away, and a satisfied smile played on the corner of his mouth: "Achieving Small Success in Clear Wind Palm today, it's their good fortune to have witnessed my martial arts progress, and they can rest in peace."
Letting those eels go was out of the question.
Though his current Qi and blood are such that eating eels doesn't significantly increase it, even the smallest gains are not to be dismissed.
After spending a teacup's time, Lin Chen recaptured the escaped eels, wrapped them once more in his shirt, and set off for home, humming a tune.